Robbie Stewart

I'm pretty sure I'm missing the obvious, but I'm curious how putting up signs by the danger spots to warn cyclists not to ride there will solve anything. Especially as the article suggests that out of town cyclists would not know the risks of the area so they need to be warned. In Afrikaans there's an idiom that aptly applies to this; "dit is mosterd na die maal". If a cyclist finds themself on that stretch of road with seconds to spare before they get mugged, I fail to understand what benefit a colourful sign will add to the already messed up affair? I'm also curious how anyone thinks to put signage up to warn cyclists off their poor life choices is better than removing the vermin that causes the problem in the first place. THIS is why I don't support the PPA. I just don't see the value they bring to the table. They need to do better than this.

Semi related. I was cycling along the beachfront in Melkbos earlier today when suddenly I found myself having to take drastic evasive action to avoid being flattened by a boet in his new Ranger. Yes, it was a white one complete with paper plates stuck to the glass. Anyway, boet was driving one handed over a Stop which he decided wasn't meant for him to stop at. All this while holding a can in his other paw. I can't say if it was a soda can or another kind of less legal beverage that may not be consumed while operating a vehicle. But boet tried to stare me down while I was counting the cost of kicking his door in its moer. I decided to just leave and get on the cycle path as soon as possible. Be careful out there mense, the morons are in town again.

Care to elaborate?

Ya, I suppose it's true. This is why I prefer to ride on closed trails.

I wonder if it's warranted to give that "lady" a good old fashioned hiding in this instance should the opportunity present itself? Mmmm. It's shocking to read between this and that other thread how bad things are getting on the roads in Cape Town. Society has degenerated rapidly over the last couple of years.

You are allowed to transition between Hoogekraal and Contermanskloof and back if you're not a member. Day pass is R60 at Hoogies which includes the trails as mentioned and a Conties day pass is R50. Those two trails provide a good mix of distance, elevation and a variety of technicality that will keep you busy for an entire day without the need to go anywhere else. And when you're done you'll be properly fried. My suggestion is to start and finish at Contermanskloof because of the insanely good carrot cake, great coffee, excellent pizzas and mad good beer you won't find anywhere else.

Tokai. The jury is hanging on which trail is better between Tokai and Jonkershoek which are arguably two of the best mountain bike trails in South Africa. If you're going to be in Constantia you will regret not riding Tokai.

I'm watching this now, and I have a new found respect for anyone who started and pushed through their limits to do this event. I'm motivated to give it a go at some point.

I do know the area. And I'm aware that alternatives don't really exist. That then makes the argument that cycling to town is a foolish endeavour. I mean, ride it if you insist, but crying about being robbed is pointless. I know I sound unsympathetic, but it seems that people are taking unnecessary risk when they really ought to know better.

This the road outside the gate in Duynefontein during July. It stayed like this for a good few weeks. I can only imagine the level of flooding in the reserve.

Nice. I usually ride to Duynefontein and do laps around that village in the mornings. Now I may add some variety and enter the reserve now and then.

Let's game this out. How do you follow them? I assume that riding is not an option, so where do you leave the bike? What do you do when you get to them and they pull out a weapon? There has been mention of firearms. Do you have one? If so, do you use it? What will your defence in court be if you do use it? What happens if they gang up on you and severely injure you, or worse, you get killed? Was it worth it to pursue criminals who are not working in isolation and have the advantage in knowing the terrain and escape routes? Look, we're all gatvol, but the reality is no-one is going to do anything about it. So the wise thing to do is to find alternative options.

I am having a hard time understanding why people are still cycling there. You KNOW that the odds of you making it through unscathed are heavily against you, but still people still ride there. The mind boggles, and I almost want to say that in such cases sympathy is unwarranted. Stupidity should not be praised, but rather called out. As much as the sentiment of "doing something about it" is appropriate, the reality is that if the designated law enforcement parties are unable to manage it then what makes people think it is their entitled right to ride there, so they will? I just don't get it. I used to ride my mountain bike past Dunoon on my way to the Tygerberg trails and back again on the way home every weekend before Covid, but then the explosion of informal shacks up to the road I was riding in made that an unviable option. So now I drive to the trails whenever I want to ride. I can still decide to claim my entitlement and ride past there, but I am almost guaranteed of throwing a thumb to get back home again after I am relieved of my bike, phone and whatever else I may be carrying. Should I just say "screw it" and ride anyway, or should I apply wisdom and not go anymore? I choose the latter. Sadly, this thread is making me think lots of folks still choose the former.

I rode on the cycle path from Sunningdale down to Woodbridge where I stopped for a minute or three and watched some absolute kegs drain over the sandbanks for what seemed like two rugby fields in distance. For a moment there I considered taking up surfing again. Then I turned back and headed north on the cycle path again all the way through Melkbos and did some laps at the Duynefontein loop before cycle-pathing back to Sunningdale again. I got a lekker 66k ride in. I just can't justify riding in the road anymore. I so want to do a Victoria drive ride again, but not while Frikkie, Fanie, Pietie and Vusi are all down from up-country, driving their vrrrr-pahs like a bunch of twat-waffles seeking attention and vloeking at anything looking like a cyclist.

I got gifted a Makro B.S.O. (Bicycle Shaped Object) back in 2013 by a family member who then dragged me up to the top at Hillcrest. I was threatening to shove that bike up his tiniest youknowwhat all the way up that hill. Then I reached the top and had my first experience of descending single track. I was completely new to the sport with zero skill and even less idea, but I went as fast as that BSO allowed me. I was waiting for my family member for nearly 5 minutes to catch up. The bike was dead. I killed the crank and the brakes had failed. But I had the biggest smile on my face. I got home later and immediately started googling new mountain bike options and settled on a end of life new hardtail being sold at a massive discount. I ride that bike for three years before upgrading to a new full suspension bike, which I still have and it currently has around 13000km on the clock on everything from tar to downhill lines and everything in between. Last year I bought a third bike, again a proper enduro spec beast that lets me have even more fun out on the trails. I gifted the hardtail to my nephew who has now taken to the sport with enthusiasm. The point I guess I'm making is that a Makro bike is sufficient to get the bug to bite, but once you're sold on mountain biking you're going to want to get the best you can afford. There are many good used options available at great prices here on the Bike hub.

I don't know any more unfortunately. We'll have to watch the media I suppose.

That's what I am just getting over. This round was particularly bad. It feels like I've turned the corner thankfully. I pray for a fast recovery for you.

I took no pictures but I finally made it back to my normal routine again after almost snapping my foot off (okay, not quite, but it felt like I did at the time) and then just as riding became possible again I got floored by two consecutive weeks of gypo-guts and then a cold. November was a proper rodeo for all the wrong reasons. Stoked to be out and about again ready for Dezembaaaaaa ! ! !

Coming from Milnerton side then the risk is that those bozo's could just as easily push you into the traffic. lose either way.

Is the N1 viable until the road beneath the elevated freeway at all? I rode that once in April. The only scare I had was when one of those container trucks passed by very close to me, but it was also a public holiday so the traffic was less on the day.

I hear you, and I also think online policing is a far reach extending into the realm of freedom of speech and all that, but according to the news article I read this morning, that was in fact prosecuted here in SA for someone calling for violence against the foreigners in SA during the xenophobia attacks. The person plead guilty and paid a 10k fine to avoid jail time. As far as more people dying before we get some reaction that is something I hope never happens. I pray our leaders responsible to deal with this mess wake up before that becomes a reality. I attend the same church as our mayor. Next time I see him I will see if he can have a quick chat.

I met a chap who works there a while ago and he also said the excessive rains this past winter did a number on the roads with huge sections completely flooded and this was the reason for the delay to reopen. At the time, about mid October, he said it was still soft and soggy in places and they were assessing it.

You know what I'm saying. Go out and commit a crime, and see how far you get with not being prosecuted. I'd say pretty far. Then go online and do a "Penny Sparrow" and try make it to Friday. That's all I'm saying. People are being prosecuted for easily prosecutable offences because no-one has to actually "do" anything.

to clarify, what happened to the OP is reprehensible and should be dealt with by the appropriate means. Calling for street justice is not the solution. Holding the responsible people to account should be the way to go as is the case. I get the frustration, but the world is changing before our very eyes. We sadly can't speak our minds anymore. Ask Jeremy Clarkson.

I read a news report this morning about the law in SA that now makes this kind of comment on any online social media platform prosecutable in SA. People can and have been arrested and been sentenced to hefty fines and jail time for calling for violence regardless of the context of the original post. This is dangerous territory to tread that is best avoided on an online forum.